Knead to Cook

Food & fitness obsessed girl.

Honey Cayenne Roasted Almonds.

by Filed Under: Holiday Baking Ideas, Nuts, Snacks, Vegetarian 1 Comment

Just purchased several huge bags of raw almonds.  We love them for snacking and with our first swim meet this weekend – they are a go to, healthy snack.  These are super easy to prepare and you can control the heat.  These also package well for holiday shipping care packages.

Ingredients:

3 cups of raw almonds
1/3 cup of honey
1-2 teaspoons of cayenne pepper (depending on how spicy you want them)
1/4 cup turbinado sugar
2 teaspoons of salt

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 350 and line your baking sheet with a Silpat.

In a small bowl combine the turbinado sugar and salt.  Set aside.

In a larger mixing bowl, add the almonds, cayenne and honey.  Stir to coat.  Then spread them out in a single layer on your lined baking sheet.  Bake for 15 minutes then give them a good stir.  Add back for an additional 10 minutes.  Once you remove them, stir them again.  Then sprinkle with some of the sugar/salt mixture.  While cooling, I keep stirring and adding additional sprinkles or salt/sugar mixture.  They will stick together but easily break apart.  Taste to adjust if they need more salt etc.

— Knead to Cook

Bob’s Roasted Chestnut Recipe.

by Filed Under: Evolution Power Yoga 40 Days, Holiday, Holiday Baking Ideas, Nuts, Snacks, Vegan, Vegetarian 11 Comments

My father, Bob, is a chestnut aficionado.  He loves this time of year when they’re sold at the farmer’s market so he can partake.  This week I found some and finally, with the completion of our kitchen, he was able to roast these up.  I don’t care for chestnuts but for those of you who do… enjoy this super easy and flavorful recipe.

Ingredients:

1 lb of chestnuts, with a cut in the top (about 1 inch long)
Pinch of salt
Water

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 450 degrees.  Set aside a baking sheet.  In a saucepan, add your chestnuts, salt and just enough water to cover.  Bring to a simmer and then remove from the heat.  Drain and place the chestnuts on your baking sheet and roast for 15 minutes.  Remove and let cool.  Peel and enjoy!

— Knead to Cook

Sweet & Spicy Cinnamon Roasted Almonds. Vegan. Gluten Free.

by Filed Under: Nuts, Snacks, Vegan, Vegan proteins, Vegetarian 12 Comments

Sweet & Spicy Cinnamon Roasted Almonds.

Sweet & Spicy Cinnamon Roasted Almonds.

 

We are bracing today for Hurricane Sandy to hit Pennsylvania.  I wanted to whip up a bunch of snacks that didn’t require refrigeration just in case we lost power.  Easily accessible and something everyone would eat.  These are easy to whip up and you control the heat so you can make them more to your liking.  I hope you enjoy these.  Also, they will be perfect for the upcoming holidays.  The smell of cinnamon is perfection!
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— Knead to Cook

Pumpkin Pie Roasted Almonds.

by Filed Under: Nuts, Snacks, Vegetarian 117 Comments

If you follow my blog, you know I’m a pumpkin addict.  I start cooking with it the minute the kids go back to school and fall creeps into my psyche.  I love the warmth of the aroma and the taste is out of this world!  Funny enough, I don’t like pumpkin pie.  I can’t explain it but I whip up so many other great substitutions that I’m cool with it.

Super easy recipe…

Ingredients:

2 cups of raw almonds
3 teaspoons of ground cinnamon
2 1/2 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice seasoning
4 tablespoons of organic agave or honey
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
Sea Salt

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment or foil.

Into a bowl place your almonds.  Then add cinnamon, spice, agave or honey and vanilla.  Toss to coat each nut.  Spread the nuts evenly on the cookie sheet.  Sprinkle with sea salt.  Bake for 18-20 minutes.  Let cool and serve.

 

 

— Knead to Cook

Bill’s homemade cereal.

by Filed Under: Beverages, Brunch, Evolution Power Yoga 40 Days, No bake/cooking required!, Nuts, Vegan, Vegetarian 4 Comments

My husband, Bill, has been making this cereal for about 10 years.  Within that timeframe, he has pursued a very focused healthy lifestyle.  Working out 6 days a week, lifting, running and eating very clean.  He slimmed down, losing about 15 lbs and dropped his cholesterol.  Now I could never insinuate or claim that this cereal will lower your cholesterol because I cannot substantiate the claim with medical studies or trials but in our house… we have all lowered our levels and have seen the benefits.  Now, with all of the fiber you need to be well aware… this is also quite good for your colon health.

Ingredients:

3 cups of wheat bran
2 cups of rolled oats
1 cup of oat bran
3/4 cup of wheat germ
3/4 cup of flax seed meal
1/2 cup of sliced or slivered almonds
1/2 cup of chopped pecans or almonds
1 cup of dried tart cherries (or raisins)
1/2 cup of apricots, chopped
1 cup of dried blueberries
1 scoop of protein powder or Arbonne essentials Vanilla Protein Shake Mix (3 packages of 1.48 ozs)

Directions:

Mix all ingredients in a bowl and then store in a gallon ziploc baggie or tupperware container.  You can keep in your pantry or in your refrigerator (although not necessary).  Serve with milk or atop of your yogurt.

— Knead to Cook

5 Ingredient Chocolate Energy Bars.

by Filed Under: Gluten Free, No bake/cooking required!, Nuts, Snacks 11 Comments

The 3 ingredient energy bars have been such an overwhelming success in my house that I needed to start making more for everyone.  Being a self-proclaimed chocoholic – this version was inevitable!  🙂

Ingredients:

1 c almonds, toasted
16 pitted Medjool dates, pitted
3 tbl of good quality cocoa
3 tbl of dark chocolate chips (optional)
1/8th tsp of salt

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Place the almonds on a cookie sheet and bake for 8 minutes.  Add the almonds to your processor and blend until you have fine chunks of almond.  Then add the remaining ingredients to your food processor and blend until a large mass forms.  Break it up and process again until it it is well blended.

In a lined (parchment) 8×8 or 9×9 glass pan, add the mixture.  I then add a piece of plastic wrap over the top and roll a small glass over top to smooth it out and make it even.  Refrigerate for 45 minutes. Then remove and slice into bite sized squares or bars.  Enjoy!

— Knead to Cook